It has been nearly two years since I hugged my mother. Since I welcomed my mama into my home and breathed in her scent and let her drive me nuts in the kitchen. It’s been more than three years since I sat in her kitchen and talked politics with my step-dad and agued with them both over the Scrabble board and watched my daughter run wild through their garden snacking on sweet peas pulled off the vine - and felt cool lake water on my skin, warmed by the Vermont sun. Covid has a lot to answer for. This paralyzing fear of travelling and welcoming visitors has now taken hold when once it felt as natural as breathing. I feel reverent awe of those able to book the tests, jump through the hoops and venture beyond their borders. I’m still too scared and yet it physically hurts how badly I want to hug my mother, to squeeze my new nephew Oniver, to lovingly tackle my sisters & brother in law, to kiss my step-dad’s head and to laugh in person with my papa bear.

Most definitively, this is why, despite not understanding the majority of my groom Kelman’s very emotional speech to his mother (delivered in Cantonese) on Sunday, I still WEPT. At Chen’s bravery for making her way to her son’s wedding in Manchester from Hong Kong, just before borders closed again. At his Aunt Julie’s emphatic (and beautiful) speech welcoming Mika into the family and alternately welcoming Kelman into Mika’s on behalf of Mika’s parents who couldn’t get over from Taiwan. At all of the closeness and love between the members of Mika & Kelman’s chosen family who travelled from all over the UK to celebrate these two wonderful humans who have worked so hard accomplished so much.

Mika & Kelman’s wedding was a breathtaking presentation of both tradition and modern style. This beautiful couple met ten years ago whilst studying at the University of Manchester and have remained close with their gorgeous community of friends who truly made Sunday’s wedding a celebration to remember. From Mika’s AMAZING lace dress and the bridal party colour palette of soft neutrals to offset Manchester Hall’s dramatic teals and golds - plus the most epic wedding cake from my friend Sarah at Pink Cocoa, every choice was meticulous and it’s showed! I absolutely have adored getting to know these two and feel so honoured to have been chosen to capture the many happy (and sometimes bittersweet) memories of a day that paid much tribute to the many absent friends and family members who couldn’t attend. This was my first wedding at the ICONIC Manchester Hall and as we explored its nooks and crannies and I got to photograph this BEAUTIFUL couple against the venue’s stunning backdrop, I was practically swooning with the romance of it all.

Thank you so so much to Mika & Kelman and the awesome team at Manchester Hall for the very best wedding day, here’s a sneak peek of what we got up to…

Manchester Wedding Suppliers

Venue - Manchester Hall https://www.manchesterhall.co.uk/

Florals - Perfect Bouquet of Flowers https://www.perfectbouquet.co.uk/independentfloristcheshireliverpool

Hair/MUA - Anne Chen https://www.instagram.com/annechen_makeupandhair/

Cake - Pink Cocoa http://pinkcocoa.co.uk/